I am probably in the minority

when I say I hold John Williams as high as Mozart, Bach, or Beethoven. I understand that Williams does not have the genius of Mozart, the prolificacy of Bach, or the mastery of Beethoven, but he is more than just a soundtrack for movies. Many of his scores are able to stand on their own, which not many can. Even though he does borrow from many other composers (like the ones mentioned above), he does freely admit this, and more importantly, he knows good music, so he knows when it is good to borrow and use it. Some of his works can send me to the same place where Chopin's nocturne can, where my dreams seem to melt away. Others can excite me as much as Beethoven's 9th Symphony. I do realize that his works are not technically as inspired as some of the greats, but at the end of the day, music should transport you to a different place. Sometimes it is peaceful, or frightening, or simply transcendental. Williams' music does this for me. That is enough for me.